Mr. Lam Cuol, Director of the 1/5 Agricultural Cooperative (Lieu Tu commune), is enthusiastic and determined to pursue the goal of growing organic rice and developing agro-tourism. Photo: Kieu Trang.

For the 2025 summer-autumn crop season, 64 members of the 1/5 Agricultural Cooperative in Tra Ong hamlet, Lieu Tu commune (Can Tho city) were extremely excited when nearly 65 hectares of their rice were purchased by Toan Cau Organic Clean Agriculture Group Co., Ltd. (Toan Cau Company) at a price approximately 700 VND/kg higher than what traders outside the cooperative paid.

This is the result of negotiation efforts and investment solicitation by the Party Committee and People's Committee of Lieu Tu commune since the two-tiered local government came into operation.

Lieu Tu commune has an annual rice production area of ​​nearly 11,000 hectares, with a total output of approximately 66,000 tons per year. However, the consumption of rice in the commune has long been limited, mainly due to the lack of a production chain and the absence of a local rice processing plant.

Based on this reality, the local government has actively invited businesses to invest in the rice sector. In a short time, the locality has attracted two large enterprises: Toan Cau Company, which invested in a 100-hectare organic ST25 rice production area, and Minh Long Investment Development and Logistics Company Limited (Minh Long Company), which invested in building a rice processing plant and implementing an agro-tourism model on the organic rice fields.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duy, Secretary of the Party Committee of Lieu Tu commune, assessed that this is the first time in the commune that investment projects have been implemented in a way that is interconnected and mutually supportive. This combination will create a comprehensive model for tourism development based on organic agricultural production, leading to the establishment of the Lieu Tu organic rice brand , in line with the local government's green agricultural economic development orientation.

This also confirms that the commune's investment attraction policy is very good, helping businesses quickly prepare all necessary procedures and implement projects. The rural landscape of Lieu Tu, seen through the eyes of businesses, also becomes attractive, with great potential for exploitation and development.

According to the plan, Global Company has committed to investing in a 100-hectare organic rice farming area for ST25 rice in the commune over a period of 5 years. In addition, the company also implements an agricultural insurance policy. Assuming the contracted rice yield is 800 kg/1,300 m², if farmers only achieve 750 kg/1,300 m², the company will compensate for the loss of an additional 50 kg/1,300 m².

In addition, in the first year, the purchase price of rice will be 1,000 VND/kg higher than the market price and will gradually increase in subsequent years. In the third year, the price will increase by an additional 3,000 VND/kg compared to the market price. By the fourth year, when the rice quality basically meets organic standards, the purchase price will double the market price.

With this attractive policy, Mr. Lam Cuol, Director of the 1/5 Agricultural Cooperative, said that farmers are very excited and determined to pursue the goal of growing organic rice. “Once the rice meets organic standards, farmers no longer need to worry about yield; achieving around 600kg/1,300m2 will bring them a substantial profit. Therefore, we will strive to produce organic rice , multiplying profits, combining it with agro-tourism, and ensuring stable output, guaranteeing high profits for farmers,” Mr. Cuol said enthusiastically, expressing confidence in the success of the projects.

When the organic rice farming area is established, it will also be the time when Minh Long Company's rice processing plant project and agro-tourism model will become operational. The rice processing plant is expected to be built on a scale of 1.5 - 2 hectares, including workshops, raw rice storage, finished rice storage, office area, support facilities, parking lot, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Le Trung Dung, CEO of Minh Long Company, said that the factory will be equipped with modern production lines such as drying machines, milling machines, polishing machines, color sorting machines, and automatic packaging machines with a capacity of 20,000 tons of rice per year, with a total investment estimated at approximately 50 billion VND.

Specifically, the company will directly purchase organic ST25 rice from local growing areas to process on-site for export to the Philippines, Malaysia, the Middle East, Africa, etc., under the brand "ST 25 Lieu Tu Rice".

Leveraging the existing organic rice resources and the large number of tourists, especially foreign visitors, Minh Long Company will implement an agro-tourism model – Green Rice. The company will renovate the roads and infrastructure surrounding the organic rice fields. Simultaneously, it will build homestays and offer services such as experiencing rice planting and harvesting, making local traditional cakes, and enjoying Khmer ethnic cuisine along with dishes made from organic ST25 rice.

This model can create stable jobs for 50-70 local workers, contributing to increased budget revenue and promoting socio-economic development in Lieu Tu commune.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lieu Tu commune, the People's Committee has directed specialized units to coordinate with cooperatives and farmers to carry out related tasks so that the project can be implemented as soon as possible.

Mr. Huyen assessed that previously, people were only familiar with rice cultivation and farming. Now, with the shift to organic rice farming combined with agro-tourism development, people can also participate in tourism. Besides increasing income, the model will create a new shift in people's awareness of the environment, landscape, and rural transportation, attracting more tourists to the area.